Human Self-Domestication and the Evolution of Pragmatics

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary linguistics
• Human cognitive evolution
• Primatology

Background:

• Modern language use (pragmatics) is proposed to have evolved gradually in humans.
• This evolution is linked to human self-domestication processes.
• Key aspects include reduced aggression, language structure sophistication, and enhanced pragmatic principles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a multifactorial model for the evolution of language pragmatics.
• To explore the feedback loop between self-domestication and linguistic development.
• To investigate the role of reduced aggression in shaping human communication.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of gene-culture co-evolution and cultural niche construction.
• Analysis of the interplay between reactive aggression, language structure, and pragmatic abilities.
• Examination of evidence from cognitive disorders presenting with self-domestication and pragmatic deficits.

Main Results:

• A reduction in reactive aggression facilitated the exploitation of cognitive potential for linguistic exchanges.
• Language evolution involved a feedback loop where reduced aggression and linguistic sophistication reinforced each other.
• Early language forms supported verbal aggression, while later forms enabled persuasive reciprocity, reducing physical aggression.

Conclusions:

• Language pragmatics evolved gradually through a complex feedback loop involving self-domestication and linguistic innovations.
• Reduced aggression is a crucial factor enabling sophisticated human communication and social interaction.
• This multifactorial approach offers a more comprehensive understanding of language evolution than single-factor models.